Glen Scotia distillery is offering Scotch enthusiasts the chance to enjoy dinner and a dram with world famous whisky writer Charles MacLean during the Campbeltown Whisky Festival in May.
The exclusive event kicks off this year’s Campbeltown Whisky Festival and will also introduce the Limited Edition Glen Scotia 2017 Campbeltown Festival Bottling.
The cask was hand-picked by a panel including Iain McAlistair, distillery manager at Glen Scotia, and industry expert Charles MacLean, from casks matured in the distillery’s refurbished dunnage warehouse, which dates from the 1830s.
Just over 200 bottles of the Limited Edition malt are available.
Charles MacLean (above with Iain McAllister, Glen Scotia distillery manager) said, “Whisky fans who attend the Whisky Dinner will have a chance to discover for themselves the fine malts that are being produced at Glen Scotia and gain a unique insight into why Campbeltown is such an important part of Scotland’s whisky map.
“Campbeltown and Glen Scotia are undergoing a renaissance. Its people have a real passion for the place and its distilleries, and the fantastic work being done by Iain and the wider team at Glen Scotia is part of the spark that is reigniting the town.”
The Glen Scotia Whisky Dinner takes place Tuesday, 23 May at Ardshiel Hotel, which boasts a selection of over 700 single malts.
The ticketed event, for 55 guests, will feature the finest local foods, including seafood from local producers and locally sourced venison.
Each course will be accompanied by a specially selected Glen Scotia dram. Attendees will receive their bottle of the 2017 Campbeltown Festival whisky ahead of its general release.
Iain McAllister, Glen Scotia distillery manager, said, “It is a real honour to have Charles MacLean leading our first Glen Scotia Whisky Dinner, which also kicks off this year’s Campbeltown Whisky Festival.
“Our Whisky Dinner offers a chance to get to know Glen Scotia better and savour the wonderful whisky experience that is available here in Campbeltown.”
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has invited whisky icon Charles MacLean to select 30 old and rare bottles to be served in its new Edinburgh whisky bar, Kaleidoscope.
The Edinburgh-based whisky specialist, and star of Ken Loach’s 2012 film The Angel’s Share, is the first person to create a guest whisky for Kaleidoscope, which opened at SMWS’s Queen Street headquarters in August.
The special selection features nine whiskies from MacLean’s personal collection, including the Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Cask from Taiwan, which was named ‘Best New World Single Malt’ at the 2012 World Whisky Awards.
The other 21 bottles were sourced by MacLean from a whisky auction and include a Dufftown-Glenlivet 12 year old distilled in the 1960s, The Balvenie Founder’s Reserve, distilled in the early 1970s, and a Mortlach ‘Flora & Fauna 16 year old.
Charles MacLean said, “The Scotch Malt Whisky Society looks at whisky through the lens of flavour, and my idea for this guest selection is to encourage everyone to explore how whisky flavours have evolved over the past decades.
“All of these expressions are discontinued so there are very few places in the world you can taste them, making a visit to Kaleidoscope a unique experience for whisky fans. I recommend a visit soon before all of the drams are gone!”
This is the first time that The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, which bottles single cask single malt whisky, has offered non-Society whiskies alongside its own bottlings at its bar.
Kaleidoscope offers full spectrum
Kaleidoscope whisky bar was opened by SMWS in August following a £300,000 refurbishment of its 28 Queen Street venue.
Installed on the ground floor, it offers a revolving spectrum of whisky, serving more than 200 single malts and other spirits alongside a range of whisky cocktails and MacLean’s new selection.
SMWS Operations Director, Jan Damen, said, “Kaleidoscope is open to all types of visitors, from local whisky fans to international visitors who are just starting out on their whisky journey.
“The Society is all about exploring the spectrum of flavours within the whisky category and we’ll have one of the biggest selections of rare single malt whisky in the country.”
The Dornoch Whisky Festival is back next month to celebrate the area as a key whisky hub in Scotland.
Organised by local distilleries, the festival builds on the success of its first-ever event last year, with an expanded programme running from Friday 28 – Sunday 30 October.
Among the numerous whisky-based activities on offer, such as tastings and distillery tours, a highlight will be a screening of Whisky Galore in Balblair distillery. It will be introduced by whisky writer and taster Charles Maclean, who also starred in the film.
There will also be a grand gala tasting at the Dornoch Castle Hotel, followed by a Ceilidh and BBQ.
The event is run through a collaboration of Dornoch distilleries Glenmorangie, Balblair, The Dalmore, Glen Ord, Clynelish and Old Pulteney and local venues including Dornoch Castle Hotel.
Lucy Williams, Marketing Development Officer with Visit Dornoch, said, “We’re very excited to see the event return for a second year and hope this will be the start of something big for Dornoch.
“Dornach is a true whisky hub, home to many top Scottish distilleries, and the festival is a great opportunity to discover all six in one go.
“The programme is designed to make sure there’s something for everyone and a great excuse to discover some new whiskies, as well as everything else Dornoch has to offer.”
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